Member-only story
Two insane travel moments, part one
So I was on the way to Japan (my first time anywhere in Asia ) and I was thrilled as it was a fulfillment of a long held dream. I would be visiting my college roommate who was from Nagoya and still lived there — and I boarded the flight without issues. Magic travel — the car came on time, the security line was lightning, the brand new TSA precheck worked like a charm — even the Clear subscription had not yet run out! I settled into my seat and just as doors were closing a blonde French girl asked me if she and I might switch seats. She also had an aisle but on the other side of the plane and my seatmates were her schoolmates. I was happy to do so but asked the flight attendant if it would be okay.
“No,” he said, very seriously, after I asked. “This is absolutely illegal and we won’t do it”
I nodded and then he broke into a grin.
“Just kidding, of course you can switch.”
I laughed nervously. Hey, I was alone and in 14 hours was going to have to change planes from international to domestic travel in a country where, six months of Duolingo aside, I was illiterate.
Resettled into my new aisle seat on the other side of the plane, I warmed up with a gentle movie and slept. Dinner arrived and I was delighted by the tangy rice and creamy Greek-lemon chicken that bore no resemblance to the…
